Nova #1 Review - Marvel Monday

99 Problems

Written by: Jeff Loveness & Ramón Pérez
Art by: Ramón Pérez & Ian Herring
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 07, 2016
Review by: Carl Hamlin

I really wanted to like this issue, I mean when you're the last member of an intergalactic peacekeeping force and find out that you're actually not, should make for an interesting story. Unfortunately I found myself wanting to know more about how a dead Nova came back from the dead and less about how a teenage boy can't seem to talk to a girl.



We start with Richard Rider at home learning that his father had died, and seeing that maybe his coming back from the dead is having some mental repercussions. Leaving me with the question, how did his coming back change him, and how did his helmet get home?

Moving on we are shown the current Nova Sam Alexander, who believes he is the only Nova left in existence helping a planet known as Ego with a space virus problem. Grabbing hold of a meteor Sam slams it down onto the planet taking the idea from the dinosaurs. 

Best intergalactic superhero moment, fighting aliens, flying home for breakfast and then… going to high school. I'm Sam’s hurry to get to school he forgot to make sure he was wearing actual clothes under his helmet and has the classic nightmare scene:  

As it seems superheroes are people too, feeling nostalgic to my days in high school, it seems Sam had an issue talking to girls. He meets the new girl while in his underwear and wants to talk to her once he gets to school. This exchange seems to not be needed for anything, the only thing you get out of it is Sam refusing to tell people he is Nova to get them to like him, and that he “quit” the Avengers and is now a Champion.

Then this happens:  

We flip back to Richard walking down memory lane, talking about how as a kid he always wanted to fly. His Nova helmet flies to him, he puts it on. Realizing how much he missed flying he all of a sudden clutches his chest and falls, where we are given the name of the next issue “Going Knowhere”

Bits & Pieces:

All and all this issue is forgettable. You get too much teenage problems and set up and not enough character information.

5.5/10